Could You Have Gum Disease?

Could You Have Gum Disease?

Oral Hygiene Los Altos

Bad breath, aching jaw, painful chewing, and swollen gums — sound familiar? It might surprise you to learn that hundreds of Americans suffer from gum disease, or periodontal disease, and if these painful symptoms remind you of your daily life, you may be one of those hundred.

Addressing and correcting your gum disease before it becomes detrimental to the overall health and wellness of your mouth is crucial. Our mouths are full of bacteria that cause plaque on teeth, and if left to develop, this plaque can quickly cause inflammation of the gums, called gingivitis. Gingivitis has mild symptoms, and can often be treated through regular brushing and flossing.

If left untreated, the swelling and redness of gingivitis worsens, causing the gums to pull away from the teeth, and this is known as periodontitis. As the gums pull away from the teeth, the pockets created often fill with bacteria; the body’s natural response is to fight off this bacteria, and consequently creates a situation in which the body begins breaking down bone and tissues surrounding the area. The destruction in and around the tooth can become so detrimental that the tooth must be extracted.

Although most people don’t show signs of gum disease until their 30s or 40s, some lifestyle risk factors can increase gum sensitivity and therefore increase the chances of early or accelerated gum disease.These factors include:

Smoking

Hormonal changes in women

Diabetes

Medications

Genetic Susceptibility

It’s important to visit Legacy Dental Care regularly for oral exams and cleanings, but when should you consider an immediate appointment to address the possibility of gum disease?Common symptoms of gum disease include:

Unwavering bad breath

Red or swollen, tender or bleeding gums

Painful chewing

Loose or sensitive teeth

Receding gums or teeth that appear longer

These symptoms could be signs of a serious problem and should be evaluated by Dr. McBirney and Dr. Diamond as soon as they are discovered.

Don’t become another victim of periodontitis! For more information about periodontitis prevention and treatment, call 650-948-0786 to schedule an appointment with your Los Altos dentists Dr. McBirney and Dr. Diamond today.

My wife and I were looking for a new dentist since our previous one retired. We were referred to Dr Diamond. We met him and after spending a short amount of time felt very comfortable. It’s a great practice, everyone there is top notch. I really appreciate how much time the entire team spends with you explaining the procedures, care at home, and even insurance! We also moved our 3 kids over from their pediatric dentist.

Dan WLos Altos

Legacy Dental Care has provided exceptional dental care to my wife and I over the past 40 years. If you are looking for a family dentist I would recommend this dental practice without exception.

Bernie PLos Altos

I called on Friday regarding a chipped tooth, Got a very quick appointment for Monday. Dr. Diamond was very thorough, careful, and explained everything.

Larry WLos Altos

I am a patient of Dr. Jeffrey Diamond,he is very knowledgeable.He is very good at answering questions and giving details about procedures.

Shirin C

Judy is amazing. She always catches things that others might miss. Dr. Diamond is really accomodadting, professional yet down to earth.

Anonymous

I’ve had bad experiences with dental care in the past, so for me, a big reason to go here after moving to the bay area was the positive word-of-mouth from my family. I’m glad my expectations were met. The whole team is very friendly, there’s no judgment, no rushing and everything was explained in detail. I feel like I was treated like a person and not a number.